One Day in a City Itinerary – Mykonos, Greece
My one day in Mykonos came as a result of a Mediterranean cruise I was on. A lot of people see Mykonos this way and – judging from conversations with my fellow cruisers on the ship that night – many are disappointed of how they spend the day on the island.
I loved my day on Mykonos island; here are my tips to ensure you do, too.
Tip #1: If you’re short on time in Mykonos and really want to experience the island, be cautious of signing up for a shore excursion.
The 11-night Mediterranean cruise I was on stopped in eight different ports and I didn’t do a shore excursion in any of them. Caveat: I am well-traveled around Europe, but even for someone new to traveling in Europe, navigating your way around the cities and islands of the continent is easy to do with a little bit of planning. Shore excursions tend to be crowded and on a tight schedule, not allowing you the freedom to immerse yourself in the island where you’d like.
Tip #2: If thinking of Mykonos conjures thought of a picturesque setting such as this…
…then go to Mykonos Town. Really, everyone should see Mykonos Town as it’s absolutely gorgeous and is quintessential Greek isle scenery.
However, before arriving in Mykonos Town, I pictured it to be peaceful and soul-soothing like Oia in Santorini.
It’s not.
Instead, after an hour I ended up feeling frustrated, annoyed, and wanting to see more of Mykonos than just what’s on postcards.
Don’t get me wrong; Mykonos Town is beautiful and worth exploring, but it is also a tourist trap full of gift shops and crowds. Masses and masses of day trippers are milling about and the town with its narrow alleyways, it can start to feel incredibly claustrophobic.
So I recommend that you do not spend all of your time in port there as many people are inclined to do this since it’s the only place most cruise lines will offer transportation to if you’re not doing a shore excursion.
This beautiful yet claustrophobic and touristy dichotomy is why after two hours in Mykonos Town I proclaimed: “I must get out of here!” I then began walking to the edge of the town, which took my husband and me up a hill to a road. We reached the road and the thought of going back into the crowds and shops filled me with dread so we decided to walk up the curving road, not sure what we would come to.
After a few switchbacks in the road, I was starting to think this road was leading us nowhere and we were going to end up in some weird time-continuum vortex pushing buttons a là Lost.
Then, after one more bend, we were saved. We came to a 4-wheeler and scooter rental shop.
Tip #3: Rent a 4-wheeler or scooter.
My husband and I didn’t even need to discuss whether we should rent one or not when we stumbled upon that shop. We were both drawn to it as keenly as if we were stranded in a desert and it was a huge pond of water.
It was the best decision we could have made and I strongly recommend renting a 4-wheeler or scooter to get around the island, especially if you want to head to a beach. The small pockets of beaches by Mykonos Town and by the port are rocky and, unfortunately, sprinkled with trash.
We rented a 4-wheeler from the lady who ran the shop, who seemed quite surprised we were more than willing to pay full price for a day’s rental even though we’d only have it for a few hours (cruise ships will leave without you so we left ourselves plenty of time to get back to the ship).
And that’s when our adventure and love affair with Mykonos really started. The island is so much more than the blue doors of Mykonos Town. It’s a sprawling land mass of brown hills dusted with greenery and flowers and cute little island houses. And beaches.
Gorgeous beaches hiding in alcoves and hinting at the beach parties that begin on its sand once night falls. We ended up at Paradise Beach and loved it.
Our rental shop took a bit of hike to get to, but there are also some closer to the pier, such as this option, though prices may be more expensive the closer you are to the pier. However, you save transportation cost to Mykonos Town, so it may even out.
Looking for some more Mykonos travel tips? Check these links out:
Going to Paradise Beach in Mykonos
Renting 4-Wheelers in Greece
What to Pack for a Mediterranean Cruise
Heading to other cities and islands in Greece? You may find these articles helpful:
One Day in Athens
One Day in Santorini
Why You Hated Your Cruise
Staying overnight in Mykonos?
You can search for Mykonos hotels using Booking.com and choose the one with your favorite location or ocean view. Booking.com is my favorite accommodation reservation site for Europe since it is easy to use, includes the lowest prices, and has free cancellation for most hotels.
Don’t forget these Mykonos tips — Pin for later!
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Hi Danielle, my husband and I both wore our suits there under our clothes, but we both remember seeing public bathroom facilities. It was several years ago, but hopefully our memories serve correct and they are still there!
Hi Gina, almost a year after the last comment on this post, I have a question it seems no one has asked. My husband and I have booked a Mediterranean cruise for September and as we are planning our short stay at each port a question has us stumped. If you can remember, are there any public bathroom facilities or a nearby restaurant at Paradise beach where we can change into our bathing suits after touring Mykonos town itself? Or is it best to debark ready to strip down and jump in the cool water? Thanks!
Very useful your advice, and thank you for sharing your experience with us!
My suggestion is to try it some time in a helicopter charter and see the island of Mykonos from above!
Something different and something that can be enjoyed!
for those afraid of heights, try to rent a boat ride on the sweet waters of Mykonos!
Hi Sreya, that won’t be enough time to visit Santorini from Mykonos. Mykonos is a great island, too, though, and you should be able to find lots of fun things to do to fill your time there!
Gina, everything is well said about Mykonos and it is a great place to visit in the summer, with many different things to do and enjoy. You can find a broad range of activities, from enjoying the beaches, to partying, eating in cozy restaurants etc.
Best,
George
Hi, Im going on a greek isles cruise and will be stopping in mykonos for 8.5 hours. Will there be enough time (or is it even possible) to visit Santorini?
Hi Jeri, of those places I’ve written One Day articles about Rome and Athens:
https://www.onedayinacity.com/one-day-in-rome/
https://www.onedayinacity.com/one-day-in-athens/
Enjoy your cruise!
Great post! Do you have any recommendations for the other places you stopped at? We have multiple cruise stops through Europe- Croatia, Montenegro, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Athens, Corfu, Mykonos, Slovenia, Toulon. I prefer to do things on my own bc I hate tourist traps. I much prefer to mingle with the locals and be on my own timeline. I appreciate any tips!!
Thank you, Yiannis! Mykonos is a wonderful island and I hope to visit again one day!
I have only just found this blog and it is so inspiring, I love reading about your travels all over the world. I am from Mykonos so this post is close to my heart – I’m happy to read that you found so many things to do on the island, and thank you for writing such a great post about it! If you come again I really recommend you try out the water sports here, there is a great diving center and windsurf center on Kalafatis beach which would be a great place to visit. I look forward to reading about more of your travels.
Hi Kim, yes the 4-wheelers are very easy to use and maneuver. You’ll also see scooters available to rent and I’d stay away from those as they have more of a learning curve. Enjoy your trip!
Hi. Thanks for great tips. We are going as a family on a Med cruise next year and I would like your opinion please??
Could my husband and I hire/ride a 4 wheeler and double our two boys aged 14 and 10 around the island?
I have never ridden anything but my husband is an expert (just ask him) motor bike rider. Will I be okay? Are they easy enough to ride?
Thanks
Hi Betty, a 4-wheeler is more like a wide motorcycle and generally can’t seat more than two people. I wrote more about using one here: https://www.onedayinacity.com/scooters-4-wheelers-and-santorini/
Just reading Christy’s remarks so true, have been to Mykonos 6yrs ago and we will be there again in October on a Cruise Ship. While we were there the first time we did the Quod Bike ride around the island only way to go. Don’t know what to do this time. We were totally ripped off with a Vermouth and coke so want be drinking anything there again. Beautiful Island. Gayle.
Thanks for the info. I have one silly question…is a 4 wheeler a jeep or what and does it seat 2 or 4 people. Thanks
Hi Sue! No we did not need a special license, just brought our driver’s license from home though we may not have even needed to show that.
Hi Gina,
thanks for all your useful tips 🙂
did you have to produce a bike licence for the 4 wheeler or scooter……
thanks, regards, Sue
Thanks for the Tips!!
Do you have a similar summary for Santorini, Athens, Katakolon, or Thessaloniki??
Hi Norm, I don’t have the exact amount written down, but it wasn’t very much. I think only 20-30 Euros.
Would you possibly remember appx. cost of4 wheeler for the day Thanks norm and julie from australia
Hi Kylie, the cruise ships drop you off within view of Mykonos Town so you’re on the same side of the island but it’s a pretty long walk from the cruise terminal. The easiest way to get into town is the bus your cruise line will most likely offer. It’s not necessarily the most economical way to get to Mykonos Town, but it’s convenient and waiting for you right when you disembark off the ship.
Quick question regarding your post,where you mentioned transportation to Mykonos town. Where does the cruise port drop you off? What is the best way to get to Mykonos town if that isnt where the cruise port is? We are looking to spend some time in Mykonos town and then find a beach via 4 wheeler.
Thanks for sharing Teo! Those all sound like great options to head to if you have one day in Mykonos.
myko is a beautiful island. here are the beaches I can comment on:
– paradise beach; nice setting and nice water with a party starting off at 5 pm and goes and goes on and on…
– super paradise beach ; again nice settinng and lovely water with even a more upbeat and crazy party around 6 pm and onwards
– kvalo vadi, one of the best beaches. go !
– elia; famous and silent
– nammos; the most famous beach in myko. food superb music rocks prices expensive. alll worth it
– paraga beach: very very beautiful and more of a local feeling
Hi Mary, thanks for stopping by! Your cruise sounds like it will be a lot of fun. The roads are mostly paved in Mykonos so it’s not like you’ll be off-roading on the 4-wheeler, however if you don’t think your husband will be up for it then a tour might be best. Depending on the cruise line, some are limited in what they offer in Mykonos so don’t be afraid to check local tour companies on the island, too, if there is a specific thing you want to do that isn’t offered through the cruise line. Just make sure you get back to the cruise ship on time!
Would you recommend the same for folks who are 60+? We’re both able-bodied, but the 4-wheeler idea doesn’t really appeal to me (I dare not mention it to my husband). We don’t need to go to a beach. We’ll be on a 10-day cruise with stops in Messina, Athens, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, and Naples. Glad I happened on your blog.
Honestly, digging through all the various possible tours is a lot of work! Maybe I’m answering my own question and should just do the “safe” thing with the tour group. Thank you!
Hi Kylie, glad you found the tips helpful! Paradise Beach was really easy to find. The map was pretty easy to understand as it’s not a big island, but there were also signs pointing toward Paradise Beach as we drove if I remember correctly. Once we got to it, there was a parking lot and we left the 4 wheeler there and brought the keys and our helmets with us. It seemed safe. Although, I think I asked my question the same thing – what do we do if it gets stolen?! Luckily, it wasn’t a problem. 🙂 We rented a 4 wheeler in Santorini, too, and never had any issues.
Hello
Thanks for the tips Gina. Quick question in regards to the 4 wheelers. Was Paradise beach fairly easy to find on the 4 wheelers? Also where did you leave them when you where swimming and on the beach. Were they safe? I would hate for them to get stolen!
Thank you for the tips. We will be on a 11 day eastern med cruise and had nothing planned and Mykonos. I think we will be taking your suggestion and renting a car from the place you recommended by the port.
Thanks again.
Glad it helped! Hope you had fun in Mykonos!
Thanks for the tips . Very useful . I will be at Mykonos for 2 days on 5.8.2013 . Thinking to go to Delos. Thanks again
Hello Ms. Gina,
I read your blog about Mykonos and thank you for the detailed information. We are going to explore Mykonos as you suggested and ready to do our RSVP with Pier 1 online but not quite comfortable giving our CC# as there is no rental application to be filled out online. How safe it is? Also, we are going to visit Corfu and Santorini, and would appreciate greatly any suggestion that you can share. We want to be away from the tourists if possible and would like to explore on ATV or car. Many thanks for your tips and can’t wait to explore! Eugenea
Thanks Tricia! I also love Santorini and Corfu. Santorini in particular is one of my most favorite places in the world – it’s absolutely stunning.
Good pointers, Gina! I’ve been to Athens (and loved it) but have yet to make it to the Greek islands. They are on the wishlist, maybe for this summer. 🙂 Were there any other islands that were favorites?
Great tips, Gina! We went on a Greek Isles cruise over the summer and didn’t do a single shore excursion either. We were much happier to get away from the hoards of tourists descending upon the tiny towns. When we visited Mykonos, we actually took the boat over to Delos since I’m really into Greek mythology. But had we not done that, we would have rented a 4-wheeler. We saw a few people zipping around on them but only had around 2 hours after returning from Delos.
Hi Kiki, sounds like Mykonos gets a bit crazy after the sun goes down! Thanks for sharing your experience there.
Agree! Thank goodness for 4-wheelers! 🙂
Great post! I have been to Mykonos. I was making my way through the Greek isles, via Turkey, hitting up Chios and Samos, then Mykonos. The energy right at the port was unlike any of my previous stops. Party with a capital “P” is pretty much how I’d describe Mykonos. I also swam at Paradise Beach, but it was extremely busy, loud, and well, a party. Great island, different vibe, not sure if its on my must-see-list.
These are really great tips! It can be so difficult to immerse when you’re short on time, but I love how you guys found a way to escape the tourist trap by exploring via 4 wheeler. That’s a tip that can be used for any destination, I think!
I decided against going to Mykonos in 2004 when I did a tour of the Greek Islands and have regretted it ever since. It looks amazing in every picture I see of it!
Thanks Jenny! I’m a big proponent of the first tip.
Thanks Christy! If the cruise ship leaves without you because you don’t get back in time, it’s up to you to figure out how to meet it at the next port – which can be quite expensive! Glad to hear you had fun in NYC. That must be a really hard place to narrow down what to see in 24 hours!
Great tips Gina, especially the first!
These are really useful tips! We’ve never actually taken a cruise so I’ve never had to deal with that time constraint (what do you do if they leave without you??), but we did spend one day in NYC a few years ago. We saw quite a bit for being there less than 24 hours! Of course it was all the touristy stuff, but it was still fun. 🙂